THE MASONIC PROVINCE OF YORKSHIRE WEST RIDING

A Leeds Masonic lodge has received a very warm reception from a local hospice to a “cool” £2,500 donation!
 
Members of Loyalty Lodge, which meets in Castle Grove, Headingley, answered a call of help from St Gemma's Hospice, in Moortown, which was looking to purchase an industrial ice machine.
 
Whilst ice is used by the hospice to not only to chill drinks - but to soothe patients’ mouths and throats, and to fill packs to cool those with high temperatures - the cost of a new unit came with a hefty price tag.
 
For its part, Loyalty Lodge successfully applied to the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s (PGM’s) Fund for a grant of £2,500 to help buy the equipment.
 
Each quarter, this fund allocates grants ranging from a few hundred pounds up to £5,000 to charities and organisations in its membership area, which encompasses West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and parts of East and North Yorkshire.
 
Annually, it gives financial support totalling £200,000, which comes solely from the generosity of its members at lodge nights and from fund-raising activities.
 
Loyalty Lodge Charity Steward Ed Morris said: “St Gemma’s is a much loved and valued hospice, and one that offers support and comfort to terminally ill people and their families from across Leeds.
 
“When we heard they were looking to buy a new ice-making machine, we applied to the PGM’s fund to pay for one, and I’m delighted to say it was successful.
 
“Charity has been at the very heart of Freemasonry since its foundation, which in this province dates back more than 200 years.
 
“Our members, who all live and work in the local area, are incredibly community minded, and they like nothing better than helping support charities and good causes in Leeds.”

​Financial donations of almost £25,000 have been handed to various organisations across the Yorkshire region by the Freemasons.
 
Amongst the recipients of grants raging from between £3160 and £750 are Down’s Syndrome North Yorkshire, Wakefield’s Standbridge Community Centre, and Clifton Rangers Youth Football Club in Brighouse.
 
The donations come courtesy of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, which each quarter distributes tens-of-thousands-of-pounds to local good causes across the Province – whose geographically area ranges from Sheffield in the South to Ripon in the North, and Goole in the East to Waddington in the West.
 
Recipients of this quarter’s grants include:
 

• Leeds Women’s Aid - £3,162 provided to create a completely new play area for the children affected by domestic abuse and violence
• Burley in Wharfedale Scout and Guide Group - £2,500 for the new Scout HQ
• Craft Aid International (Harrogate) - £2,000 for the purchase of a number of crafts for people living with disabilities to enjoy
• Lineham Farm Children’s Centre (Leeds) - £2,000 towards buying mountain bikes for disadvantaged children

 
David S Pratt, Provincial Grand Master for the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said: “Once again it fills me with enormous pride that the Freemasons of Yorkshire West Riding can financially support various organisations across our membership area.
 
“Each quarter, our members nominate good causes who need monetary assistance with various projects, be it new kit for football teams to new kitchens for community buildings.
 
“Charity is one of the foundation stones of Freemasonry and it continues to be at the heart of what we do.
 
“Each recipient - and I’ delighted to say that on this occasion there are 17 of them - will use their grant to continue the wonderful work they do in their local  community.”